Peace of God Bible Review: Finding Biblical Calm in an Anxious World

The Universal Ache for Quiet: Why We Long for the Peace of God

I remember sitting in a cramped train station in Eastern Europe as a missionary, waiting for a connection that was delayed.

The station was loud with announcements blaring in different languages, children crying, people shouting into their phones.

I couldn’t concentrate. The noise was everywhere. And honestly, my mind was racing with ministry pressures, financial concerns, and the weight of being far from home in a new country where I couldn’t fully navigate the language.

That’s when it hit me: peace isn’t just the absence of noise. It’s the presence of something, or rather, Someone, greater.

We live in a world that markets peace like it’s something you can buy: a spa day or a self-help book. But biblical peace, or shalom, is different. In the midst of conflict or anxiety, shalom is wholeness. It’s God’s presence in the chaos, His rest in the middle of our messy lives.

That’s why I was intrigued when I came across the Peace of God Bible, edited by Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston and published by Thomas Nelson Bibles. What interested me most was hope for a tool designed to trace the thread of God’s peace from Genesis to Revelation, because I know so many of my readers seek that deeper peace in God’s Word, as do I.

In this Peace of God Bible review, I want to help you discern whether this resource is a faithful companion for your journey toward biblical shalom.

The promise on the cover comes straight from Jesus Himself: “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). But can a Bible, even one with 365 devotionals, notes, and special features, really help us experience that peace in our daily lives?

That’s the question I set out to answer in this review. Whether you’re a new believer trying to understand God’s character, a seasoned Christian hungry for deeper devotional content, or even someone whose heart is weary and whose mind won’t quiet down, I want to help you discern if this Bible is the right companion for your journey toward biblical shalom.

I received the Peace of God Bible for free as a member of the Thomas Nelson Bibles Blogger Program. I am providing an honest and unbiased review. Note: this review contains affiliate links.

Peace of God Bible Review: Features and Format

Before diving into the devotional content and depth, let’s talk about what you’re actually holding when you pick up the Peace of God Bible. Because the reality is, even the deepest spiritual insights won’t do you much good if the Bible itself is difficult to use.

NKJV Translation and Readability

This Bible uses the New King James Version (NKJV), which has long been one of my preferred translations for serious study. The NKJV strikes a beautiful balance between the poetic majesty of the original King James and the clarity needed for modern readers. For someone like me who appreciates theological precision without sacrificing readability, the NKJV is a gift.

One of the standout features is the Comfort Print, a 9.5-point font that’s designed for extended reading without eye strain. The line-matched, double-column typesetting keeps the text clean and easy to follow, whether you’re reading a narrative passage in Genesis or working through a dense theological section in Romans.

The text is also presented in red-letter format, meaning the words of Jesus are printed in red. When I see those red letters in the Gospels saying, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (John 14:27), it anchors me. It reminds me that the One who spoke the universe into existence is the same One who offers me rest.

Peace-Focused Devotional Content

Now here’s where this Bible distinguishes itself. The Peace of God Bible is built around the central theme of God’s shalom, and that theme is woven throughout the entire volume in several intentional ways:

365 Daily Devotionals

Each day of the year, you’ll find a devotional based on a key verse or passage that explores some aspect of God’s peace. These are theologically grounded meditations designed to help you understand how peace functions in the biblical narrative, and how it applies to your life right now.

365 Peace Notes

Scattered throughout the text are short, powerful insights that offer immediate context as you read. These notes help you see connections you might otherwise miss and draw out the theme of peace even in passages you wouldn’t typically associate with it.

Book Introductions

I always have a deep appreciation for book introductions in the Bibles I use and recommend. The introductions in the Peace of God Bible remind you that even in the bloodiest battles or the darkest laments, God is working toward shalom. They also include details about authorship, historical context, and key verses.

Topical Indexes and Articles on Biblical Peace

The Bible includes topical indexes that allow you to study how God’s peace applies to specific areas of life including relationships, suffering, spiritual warfare, and more. There are also longer-form articles that tackle practical questions:

• What is the peace of God?
• How do you find it when you’ve lost it?
• How does Jesus’ work on the cross secure eternal peace for us?

Study Helps and Cross-References

In addition to the peace-focused content, this Bible includes a concordance, cross-references at the bottom of each page, and translators’ notes, representing all the tools you should expect from a quality study Bible.

Designed for Daily Devotional Reading

What strikes me most about the design of this Bible is that it’s clearly intended for use, not just display. The Comfort Print, the thematic devotionals, the accessible notes all points toward a Bible that’s meant to be opened daily, marked up, prayed over, and lived with. It’s a tool for transformation, and that is a difference make for this volume.

Interested in the Peace of God Bible? Explore current editions and pricing here:

Peace of God Bible (NKJV)

Publisher Thomas Nelson Bibles

Released November 4, 2025

Binding Hardcover, Softcover, Leathersoft, Bonded Leather, Genuine Leather

View on FaithGateway

Check price on Amazon

Thematic Evaluation: Scripture-Saturated Peace

One of my biggest concerns when I first heard about the Peace of God Bible was whether it would reduce peace to a collection of feel-good verses. I’ve seen too many themed Bibles that sacrifice depth for sentiment.

I’m happy to report that this Bible doesn’t fall into that trap.

Beyond “Feel-Good” Verses

What Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston and the editorial team have done here is trace the narrative of peace through the entire biblical storyline. The Peace of God Bible takes seriously the fact that peace is woven into the very fabric of Scripture and doesn’t shy away from the difficult parts. Instead, it helps you see how even these hard passages fit into God’s larger peace-making project.

A Note on Messiness

If you’ve been reading my work for any length of time, you know I talk a lot about “messy life” faith. Real life is complicated. It’s not always easy and sometimes the chaos doesn’t go away just because you read your Bible.

I appreciate that the Peace of God Bible doesn’t pretend otherwise. It doesn’t offer cheap answers or quick fixes. It does invite you into the long, slow work of being transformed by the Word of God.

It reminds you that peace isn’t something you manufacture through positive thinking because it’s something you receive as a gift from the God who conquered sin, death, and chaos on your behalf.

Who Will Benefit Most from Using the Peace of God Bible?

Not every resource is for everyone, and that’s okay. A good tool serves its intended audience well. So let me break down how the Peace of God Bible might serve different groups of believers walking different roads.

For the Anxious Believer: Peace in a Messy Life

If you’re someone who wakes up with a racing mind, replaying yesterday’s mistakes, worrying about tomorrow’s unknowns, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the noise of modern life, this Bible was made for you.

The daily devotionals provide what I call a “first thought” for your day. The peace-focused content doesn’t ignore your struggles; it reminds you that the God who holds the universe together is the same God who invites you to cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

For the New Believer: Building a Foundation

If you’re new to the faith, one of the most important things you need to learn is who God is. Too many people come to Christianity with a distorted view of God, seeing Him primarily as an angry judge or a cosmic vending machine.

The Peace of God Bible orients you toward a different vision: God as the source of wholeness, restoration, and rest. The devotionals walk you through foundational truths in accessible language. And the peace notes scattered throughout the text help you make connections between passages, building a coherent understanding of the biblical story.

For Seasoned Believers and Prayer Warriors

If you’ve been walking with Jesus for years and you spend significant time in prayer, especially intercessory prayer, this Bible can serve as a powerful tool.

The topical indexes allow you to quickly locate passages related to specific needs. When you’re praying for a friend going through a divorce, you can turn to “Peace in Relationships.” When you’re interceding for someone battling depression, you can find “Peace in Suffering.” Instead of praying generic prayers, you can pray the very words of Scripture over those you love.

For Those in Ministry: A Reservoir to Be Refilled

If you’re a pastor, missionary, ministry leader, or anyone who spends their days pouring out for others, you know how easy it is to run dry. You give and give until there’s nothing left, and suddenly you’re preaching peace to others while your own soul is in turmoil.

This Bible serves as a reservoir. The daily devotionals are short enough to fit into a busy schedule but substantive enough to nourish your soul. The articles provide theological grounding that can refresh your teaching and preaching. And the overall focus on peace is a necessary help for those of us in ministry who are prone to striving and pressing on through all kinds of life seasons.

I’ve spent years serving in cross-cultural ministry, and I can tell you: the temptation to burn out is real. Resources like this that consistently point you back to the rest and wholeness found in Christ are necessities.

If you saw yourself in one of these descriptions, the Peace of God Bible may be a helpful companion as you learn to rest more deeply in God’s Word: See the Peace of God Bible.

Final Verdict: Where True Peace Is Found

Let me bring this full circle by going back to that train station in Eastern Europe, the one where anxiety pressed in from every direction.

Looking back now, I had thought if I could just find a moment of silence, then I could encounter God. But that’s not how biblical shalom works. God’s peace is found in the presence of Christ, even in the middle of chaos.

The Peace of God Bible doesn’t promise to eliminate the noise of your life. It won’t solve your relational conflicts, erase your financial worries, or quiet the anxious thoughts that wake you at 3 a.m. What it does is something far better: it points you, consistently and faithfully, to the One who is himself our peace.

If you’re looking for a Bible that consistently points you back to the peace found in Christ, you can learn more about the Peace of God Bible here.

Readers often ask questions like these…